Golf tool and carrier therefor

ABSTRACT

A golf green repair tool and golf ball marker assembly and a carrier therefor wherein the tool and marker assembly consists of a flat body member having a first handle portion and a second prong portion and said ball marker is mounted on said body member between said portions so as to form an annular space between the head of the marker and the body member. The carrier consists of a pocket shaped to receive the body member and provided with a slot which extends into the annular space so that the head of the marker is disposed outside the pocket and the slot acts to retain the body member in the pocket. A spring clip connected to the pocket adapts the carrier for mounting on the golfer&#39;&#39;s belt and/or an equivalent support.

United States Patent 3,120,388 2/1964 Doble Inventor Raymond R. Hatch 8155 Huron St., Dexter, Mich. 48130 Appl. No. 36,933 Filed May 13, 1970 Patented Nov. 16, 1971 Field of Search 224/5 C, 5 R, 25, 26 R, 26 B; 273/162 D, 32 R, 32 A, 32 B References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,185,483 5/1965 Klynman Primary Examiner-Gerald M. Forlenza Assistant Examiner-Jerold M. Forsberg Attorney-Olsen and Stephenson ABSTRACT: A golf green repair tool and golf ball marker assembly and a carrier therefor wherein the tool and marker assembly consists of a flat body member having a first handle portion and a second prong portion and said ball marker is mounted on said body member between said portions so as to form an annular space between the head of the marker and the body member. The carrier consists of a pocket shaped to receive the body member and provided with a slot which extends into the annular space so that the head of the marker is disposed outside the pocket and the slot acts to retain the body member in the pocket. A spring clip connected to the pocket adapts the carrier for mounting on the golfers belt and/or an equivalent support.

PATENTEDuuv 16 197! 3,620,426

//7/////// Ajil INVENTOR RAYMOND R. HATCH BY WWW ATTORNEYS GOLF TOOL AND CARRIER THEREFOR CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION The present application discloses a golf green repair tool and golf ball marker assembly which is the subject matter of my copending patent application, Ser. No. 10,88, filed Feb. 12, 1970.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The aforementioned copending application discloses a golf green repair tool and golf ball marker assembly adapted for convenient use by golfers in repairing ball marks on the green and in marking ball positions on the green. However, assemblies of this general type must, in order to achieve maximum use, be conveniently located so that they can be readily used by the golfer. It is an object of this invention, therefore, to provide an improved combination of the above-described assembly and a carrier therefor which enables the assembly to be conveniently located on the person of the golfer or the golfers cart or bag so that the assembly can be put to maximum use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The combination of this invention includes a carrier consisting of a pocket and a spring clip connected to the pocket. The pocket is of tapered shape to conveniently receive the repair tool and marker assembly and is provided with a slot which extends into an annular space formed in the assembly between the repair tool body and the head of the ball marker. This utilization of a slot in the front wall of the carrier pocket restrains movement of the assembly on the carrier so that the assembly will remain in a relatively fixed position convenient for use. The spring clip which forms a part of the carrier enables convenient mounting of the carrier on the golfer's belt or on an equivalent support.

Further objects, features and advantages of this invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following description, the appended claims, and the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view of the combination of this invention; and 1 FIGS. 2 and 3 are sectional views of the combination of this invention as viewed from substantially the lines 2-2 and 3- 3, respectively, in FIG. 1.

With reference to the drawing, the golf tool and carrier combination of this invention, indicated generally at 10, is illustrated in FIG. 1 as consisting of a golf green repair tool and golf ball marker assembly 12, which is described in detail in the aforementioned copending application, and a carrier 14. The assembly 12 consists of a flat body member 16 having a relatively wide handle portion 18 at one end which can be gripped between the thumb and forefinger of the golfer, and a fork-shaped portion 20 at the opposite end which includes prongs 22 that are inserted in the green to repair a golf ball mark. As shown in FIG. 1, the edges 24 of the body member 16 are tapered so that the body is of a progressively decreasing width in a direction extending from the end portion 18 to the end portion 20. Intermediate the end portions 18 and 20, a golf ball marker 26, which includes a circular head 28 and a stem 30, is assembled with the body member 16 so as to form an annular space 32 between the head 28 and the body member 18. In the illustrated form of the assembly 12, a grommet 34, formed of a rubber, pliable plastic or similar holding synthetic material, is used to mount the stem 30 on the body member 18.

The carrier 14 consists of a piece 36 of fabric or equivalent material such as plastic which is folded upon itself and connected at its edges by stitching 38, or an equivalent attaching means such as glueing or heat-sealing, to form a pocket 40 having a front wall 42 and a backwall 44 (FIG. 3). A conventional spring clip 46, consisting of a spring metal body 48 that is return bent upon itself is attached to the pocket 40 to enable support of the pocket 40 on a golfers belt or an equivalent support. The body 48 is assembled with the pocket in the illustrated form of the invention by positioning one leg 50 of the body between the pocket backwall 40 and an auxiliary piece of material 52, and the material from the pieces 36 and 52 are extended so as to cover the entire clip 46.

The front wall 42 of the pocket 40 is provided with a slot 54 and portions 56 of the wall 42 are located on opposite sides of the slot 54. As a result, when the assembly 12 is assembled with the carrier 14, the tapered body 18 is inserted in the pocket 40, which is similarly tapered, as shown in FIG. 1, so that the wall portions 56 extend into the annular space 32 between the ball marker head 28 and the repair tool body 18 on opposite sides of the grommet 34. As a result, the wall portions 56 restrain the body 18 against movement in the pocket 40 with the head 28 of the ball marker 26 located outside the pocket 40 so that the ball marker 26 can readily be removed for use without removing the body 18 from the pocket 40. As shown in FIG. 1, the slot 54 is of a length to restrict movement of the body member 18 into the pocket 40 and provide for an engagement of the pocket front wall 42 with the grommet 34. This engagement further restricts movement of the body 18 in the pocket 40. 1

In use, the carrier 14 is conveniently mounted on a suitable support by opening the spring clip 46 and snapping it onto the support, such as the golfer's belt. In such a position of the combination 10, the assembly 12 is firmly retained when not in use and is readily removed when use is desired.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a golf green repair tool and golf ball marker assembly and a transport carrier therefor; said assembly comprising a flat body member having a first end portion capable of functioning as a handle and a second forkshaped end portion having prongs for insertion into the earth, a marker having a circular head and an integral elongated stern, said stem being assembled with said body intermediate said end portions so as to form an annular space between said marker head and said body, said marker being removable from said body for use, said carrier including means forming a pocket having said fork-shaped end portion of said body disposed therein, said pocket having one wall thereof provided with a slot having wall portions disposed on opposite sides thereof and extended into said annular space so as to restrain movement of said body in said pocket, and spring clip means secured to said pocket and adapting said pocket for mounting on a support.

2. The structure according to claim 1 wherein said body member is shaped so that said first end portion is larger than said second end portion and said body member is of a tapered shape therebetween, and wherein said pocket has an open upper end and is of a downwardly tapering shape.

3. The structure according to claim 2 wherein said slot in said pocket is located at the upper end thereof and is of a length to limit insertion of said assembly into said pocket.

4. The structure according to claim 3 wherein said clip means is formed of metal or an equivalent material, said pocket is formed of cloth or an equivalent material, and said pocket forming material extends into a covering relation with said clip means. 

1. In combination, a golf green repair tool and golf ball marker assembly and a transport carrier therefor; said assembly comprising a flat body member having a first end portion capable of functioning as a handle and a second fork-shaped end portion having prongs for insertion into the earth, a marker having a circular head and an integral elongated stem, said stem being assembled with said body intermediate said end portions so as to form an annular space between said marker head and said body, said marker being removable from said body for use, said carrier including means forming a pocket having said fork-shaped end portion of said body disposed therein, said pocket having one wall thereof provided with a slot having wall portions disposed on opposite sides thereof and extended into said annular space so as to restrain movement of said body in said pocket, and spring clip means secured to said pocket and adapting said pocket for mounting on a support.
 2. The structure according to claim 1 wherein said body member is shaped so that said first end portion is larger than said second end portion and said body member is of a tapered shape therebetween, and wherein said pocket has an open upper end and is of a downwardly tapering shape.
 3. The structure according to claim 2 wherein said slot in said pocket is located at the upper end thereof and is Of a length to limit insertion of said assembly into said pocket.
 4. The structure according to claim 3 wherein said clip means is formed of metal or an equivalent material, said pocket is formed of cloth or an equivalent material, and said pocket forming material extends into a covering relation with said clip means. 